Best Marking small forward

[Dazb86]

Aaron Sandliands would have to be up there

 

[threesixpio]

With Bruest, Cyril and Pops. Blessed

 

[Truckosaurus]

There's only one Tony Greene
One Tony Greene
One Tony Greeeeheeene

 

[sr36]

Liam Ryan

1

Liam Ryan

Age

27

Ht

181cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.3

5star

D

9.9

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.6

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

 

[Tomnat Tigers]

Jack Higgins is one of the better modern day small forwards when it comes to marking.

 

[NYCFC]

Going back a bit, but Wayne Harmes.
Was 5ft 9, but incredibly powerful. Huge leap and massive kick (won the 'VFL longest kick competition they used to have back in the day)
I guess more a utility than a pure small forward though.

 

[eth-dog]

Not top tier but Angus Monfries was pretty handy on the lead.

 

[MC Bad Genius]

View attachment 1836914

View attachment 1836915

That second gif is just poetry in motion. Everything about it is so clean - the initial leap, the sit, the grab. It's pretty much the perfect grab.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

If it’s just about best marking then Jason Porplyzia

Jason Porplyzia

Age

39

Ht

177cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

8.7

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.7

4star

G

1.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.2

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

2.6

3star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.6

5star

needs a mention - the bloke had completely sticky hands - 179cm tall. Just a vice like grip on him.

 

[PieLebo87]

That second gif is just poetry in motion. Everything about it is so clean - the initial leap, the sit, the grab. It's pretty much the perfect grab.

It was a silly kick to a 3 on 1 yet he still ended up plucking it so majestically.

 

[skittlebrew]

No love for Shane McAdam

23

Shane Mcadam

Age

28

Ht

186cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.5

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

1.8

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.3

5star

G

0.8

4star

D

6.5

1star

K

4.8

2star

HB

1.8

1star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.3

4star

G

0.8

4star

D

6.5

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

1.8

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.3

5star

G

0.8

4star

?

He has had a boatload of MOTY noms

 

[Gethelred]

Paul Chapman

Paul Chapman

Age

42

Ht

179cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.7

5star

K

12.8

5star

HB

6.9

4star

M

4.7

4star

T

3.5

5star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

6.6

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

1.0

1star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.2

3star

was more a medium, but could take a hell of a mark or kick a ground ball goal like a small.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

I'll throw Linc McCarthy into the mix of current players. Not that he is the absolute best but he's up there

I'm 6' (though some of my mates would challenge that and say I'm a tall 5'11) and I saw Linc while hiking, and he is considerably shorter than I am. It is insane watching him do what he does considering how little he is for an AFL player.

I think Charlie Cameron is a great marking small on the lead and running back towards goal too.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

Paul Chapman was more a medium, but could take a hell of a mark or kick a ground ball goal like a small.

Chappy was tiny, medium for mine is like 186 - 191cm

Ollie Henry, Fritta, Heeney etc.

 

[owen87]

If 6'0" exactly counts, then the answer is Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

30

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

.

Under 6'0" gets a lot more interesting... I'll offer up Leigh Matthews as an underrated mark.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

LeCras. But the best Jamieing small forward is definitely Elliott.

 

[SSSSSS]

A few other elite ones didn't move into the midfield either, guys like Cyril rioli or Eddie betts.

I agree with you for most of them though.

We did try to move Cyril into the middle in 2010. Would always cop a tag and find a way to shake it. Lots of 20 possession + 2-3 goal games. Unfortunately his body just couldn't handle being a full time mid.

He would still spend bursts or start a few centre bounces.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

A forward id have loved to see play in the modern game was Brett Heady. I reckon he would have been elite in 2023 whereas he was just so-so in the 90s.

I feel in history its Brad Johnson

Brad Johnson

Age

47

Ht

182cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.7

5star

K

14.1

5star

HB

5.6

4star

M

5.9

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.5

5star

No current season stats available

D

12.8

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.6

3star

and in history in 5 years time its going to be Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

30

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

 

[Caligo]

Does 6 foot 1 count? If so the clear winner is John Coleman.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

Does 6 foot 1 count? If so the clear winner is John Coleman.

In that case I present you Gary Ablett Senior

I think that era is a little different, pre-2000 you could be 195cm or under and be a monster KPF. BT, Capper, Lockett, Dunstall, Ablett etc. are all under 192cm.

 

[sr36]

I'm really surprised that there isn't more admiration for Liam Ryan

1

Liam Ryan

Age

27

Ht

181cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.3

5star

D

9.9

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.6

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

. He's number 1 in my opinion - with Elliott a close second.

 

[Caligo]

In that case I present you Gary Ablett Senior

I think that era is a little different, pre-2000 you could be 195cm or under and be a monster KPF. BT, Capper, Lockett, Dunstall, Ablett etc. are all under 192cm.

I was mostly joking but yeah, it is crazy how short elite KPF used to be. Hudson too.

 

[Farang83150]

Phil Matera

 

[Liam Boy]

Aaron Edwards. Lower profile player, and same height as Brad Johnson if we are considering 6 foot players. Phenomenal leap, didn't really play the smaller forward/ground ball game but he and Abraham best two marks at North in the last 30 years for their size.

Good call on Jeff Farmer. Loved watching him.

I don't think you can call Aaron Edwards a small forward, he had a playing weight of about 100kg and he was the first or second marking target for a couple of years there. Very much an undersized key forward.

 

[lenny&carl]

What about Modra?